tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37186684336313257152024-03-20T13:38:47.174+05:30let's see here.Can you see the amazing textures of South India?Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-73418702770874842062008-01-30T08:30:00.000+05:302008-01-30T08:46:12.712+05:30<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOYO_yVcCFZfPE5FV6o7NJFXVOJQciNwdv8QOnaHQHYk2a7McUukBWufb2j5y5IRfNaeDEwp9hAHTO577xAKrwSyxmxXh2Qy7DsrZQXEixLdOtdHj2Ck-KRCffmNo5RXhuXwST8akbh0/s1600-h/l_58468e52867ab91abd368cd17f85dbb8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOYO_yVcCFZfPE5FV6o7NJFXVOJQciNwdv8QOnaHQHYk2a7McUukBWufb2j5y5IRfNaeDEwp9hAHTO577xAKrwSyxmxXh2Qy7DsrZQXEixLdOtdHj2Ck-KRCffmNo5RXhuXwST8akbh0/s400/l_58468e52867ab91abd368cd17f85dbb8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161100193385974770" border="0" /></a><br />The bags are delayed, but right now, as I type this, the tags that will be stitched on the inside are being printed. Things are coming along and even though I am not in India right now we communicate about once or twice a week to see what needs to be done. This project is a test to see if we can bring everyone together and work in a timely manner. Since this is a new process for us there are a few bugs to be ironed out but things are moving along; slowly but surely.Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-71643643342038146302007-11-20T03:50:00.000+05:302007-11-20T23:16:32.140+05:30I haven't forgotten!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCDPyuZL-ls9HhdDPgTzjbQ4POm9sqg5SqYRz8G8UOR-A2enFRf6OaqUSr-buLimCzXO7ogL1bIF-CrNsc_deTaRZnjEYsS6OQkQk50C70RwQl1qWZzSoxcdfACK-Ho-jr2vr7iEwWQs/s1600-h/IMGP8638.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134961874574825378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCDPyuZL-ls9HhdDPgTzjbQ4POm9sqg5SqYRz8G8UOR-A2enFRf6OaqUSr-buLimCzXO7ogL1bIF-CrNsc_deTaRZnjEYsS6OQkQk50C70RwQl1qWZzSoxcdfACK-Ho-jr2vr7iEwWQs/s400/IMGP8638.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It's been a while since I've made an entry, but I definitly haven't forgotten about my project! I have two prototype bags right now. I am trying to get some good pics of them to post here as soon as possible. I am back home now in the good ole U.S of A. and enjoying spending time with my family and friends</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>As I am writing this, the yarn production is going on, and then after that, the weaving, stitching and printing. The bags are supposed to ship out around christmas time. I can't wait. I've already got my eye on some places that would be perfect for retail.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For Olivia, my email address is <a href="mailto:valliphoto@yahoo.com">valliphoto@yahoo.com</a>. drop me a line. Thank ya'll for keeping up with me! Valli</div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-28142801210340809432007-08-31T00:46:00.001+05:302007-08-31T01:32:38.370+05:30Manual spinners and weavers<div align="center">Manual handspinning....Gandhi was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_wheel">handspinner</a> and a weaver in the latter part of his years.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOokJ0hJytD6TkCsYpIsRhjl-JlzxIC5CPKrvF_6WDsl-Ehqr3SfPSKPlej2lxor1NySrGuIjXPHaEFnhMlTJ1scWWMItCbp4N-arsdrsQR51n3wHMbKafPfFkzfxq-lP3sDonCR390QI/s1600-h/spinner2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104582109742983266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOokJ0hJytD6TkCsYpIsRhjl-JlzxIC5CPKrvF_6WDsl-Ehqr3SfPSKPlej2lxor1NySrGuIjXPHaEFnhMlTJ1scWWMItCbp4N-arsdrsQR51n3wHMbKafPfFkzfxq-lP3sDonCR390QI/s400/spinner2.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><br />weaver...we were taking a tea break...tea at three.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2yHFCIhY7gNjf2h2hHD0bM7Rzl2nrj485YtRZ_sRZOc_JApmBCJ4YDpoDONEku5rTe_M-6ezUxLu-E0nHg1mCwUvpNg7wKNF_5MfC_08oL6mnzQGavKE7UUPLq9kALcRoqF5L97AOyo/s1600-h/weaver8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104582114037950578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2yHFCIhY7gNjf2h2hHD0bM7Rzl2nrj485YtRZ_sRZOc_JApmBCJ4YDpoDONEku5rTe_M-6ezUxLu-E0nHg1mCwUvpNg7wKNF_5MfC_08oL6mnzQGavKE7UUPLq9kALcRoqF5L97AOyo/s400/weaver8.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>manual weaving<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEKYGFIwBUWSvlYFieM97Hdb1td6YWZe5mS0wa_MVg2WLtwmGeMPo-AaWMTEELsAtmzYAwXY32XCB8XYX9a2fSi9EFQ5rgxlOROI3RuayG5UWDo5VXh6kg3BgdcHYnm4S01_3mdknL0w/s1600-h/weavers2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104582118332917890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEKYGFIwBUWSvlYFieM97Hdb1td6YWZe5mS0wa_MVg2WLtwmGeMPo-AaWMTEELsAtmzYAwXY32XCB8XYX9a2fSi9EFQ5rgxlOROI3RuayG5UWDo5VXh6kg3BgdcHYnm4S01_3mdknL0w/s400/weavers2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">P. Mary is the eldest of her five member household. They live in a three-room home with a new baby on the way.<br /></div><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0WcUJhHLNYKuzZrqLPD8DEpymWhOXpI3L8QFHuVuyeYIZp-UhwNTk7TcLuxLnuYPrXQECOf-RSepY69zLLlqrC2tuho8fOEdNs7yanmOxa7eoMTRO5EgXWhQ4BdY641adGh2LV3lZo0/s1600-h/spinner1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104577771826014226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0WcUJhHLNYKuzZrqLPD8DEpymWhOXpI3L8QFHuVuyeYIZp-UhwNTk7TcLuxLnuYPrXQECOf-RSepY69zLLlqrC2tuho8fOEdNs7yanmOxa7eoMTRO5EgXWhQ4BdY641adGh2LV3lZo0/s400/spinner1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p></p><br /><p align="center">Handloomers</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TMpcxdM8b3VbYIlBCf2ZDlQa7foA78KI0CyejbMUJiVX6vjheb3qR9sSaofkeZ9gY1ta12yHGujKpK-htLogsru4_ds-F_dnrEUw3_AElc4v6ad7R7s0Q9GZg_-IVmChdw__Z22kjTs/s1600-h/spinner3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104577776120981538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TMpcxdM8b3VbYIlBCf2ZDlQa7foA78KI0CyejbMUJiVX6vjheb3qR9sSaofkeZ9gY1ta12yHGujKpK-htLogsru4_ds-F_dnrEUw3_AElc4v6ad7R7s0Q9GZg_-IVmChdw__Z22kjTs/s400/spinner3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiRr_mpXAsUF_6dA0xyqq3Xp68hc717KdGyyqtnHg8tCN1uaxUxORHaGiB4sAOvCxSSEUYGqM6Qfl32keJ3ifpNOn1N4V8m4pyIPfAXOXTqkZlceQrx9NWsUKOoKLWbdKpMUgvZkU-v8/s1600-h/spinner6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104577780415948850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiRr_mpXAsUF_6dA0xyqq3Xp68hc717KdGyyqtnHg8tCN1uaxUxORHaGiB4sAOvCxSSEUYGqM6Qfl32keJ3ifpNOn1N4V8m4pyIPfAXOXTqkZlceQrx9NWsUKOoKLWbdKpMUgvZkU-v8/s400/spinner6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewYK2jveAipTqz9KY1ZT_32kOFaYWYczREv5MiAiAF01OlpPrza7eDpWxiYNA2ENaOfPzC6N6aggK2KsQEYgx3GnZXWhoCjl4-JQzvgij7IdS5i4Ekli1OjKTwpXyRUqwmrQLHsWYzjM/s1600-h/spinner5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104577780415948866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewYK2jveAipTqz9KY1ZT_32kOFaYWYczREv5MiAiAF01OlpPrza7eDpWxiYNA2ENaOfPzC6N6aggK2KsQEYgx3GnZXWhoCjl4-JQzvgij7IdS5i4Ekli1OjKTwpXyRUqwmrQLHsWYzjM/s400/spinner5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirb90NSNgSWgkDWfLcTKIr2WMn7NfvhpsBsuA_EB5L8rTmbXqBqeaCORUshTLCEJ27ZnGBJOzrkdXLIAGuL61LywEy_sEy12FdUrB-3oSdnxw4mnQ6T-sP8xg9BvZOocvBMd4E2N5gd3o/s1600-h/weaver10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104577784710916178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirb90NSNgSWgkDWfLcTKIr2WMn7NfvhpsBsuA_EB5L8rTmbXqBqeaCORUshTLCEJ27ZnGBJOzrkdXLIAGuL61LywEy_sEy12FdUrB-3oSdnxw4mnQ6T-sP8xg9BvZOocvBMd4E2N5gd3o/s400/weaver10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">These are pictures from two villages; Srivilliputhur and Sublapuram, Madurai westside. These folks concentrate on manual weaving and looming. Right now, most of the people here only have enough work for about 10 days out of one month. I want to change that for them...let's give them something to do! </div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-84662974899255360542007-08-30T20:56:00.000+05:302007-08-31T01:41:50.883+05:30Fair Trade Farming<div align="center">Mr. S. Palanichamy taking us on a tour down the main road of Vannampatti.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtr4omKZ9LMJk5t_H3xtPSNECqSJT7QpyGMcELaRT6nGKh-_OPjf_rKyBXK92Vc0VAl3cM1UAhFCZXbsgaj2xdevA_6K_VJRx7SX62I9NAw_z99wLzg8UCZzT7Kpgyjeevj7a0_6uKbY/s1600-h/farmers+village2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104538739163228130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtr4omKZ9LMJk5t_H3xtPSNECqSJT7QpyGMcELaRT6nGKh-_OPjf_rKyBXK92Vc0VAl3cM1UAhFCZXbsgaj2xdevA_6K_VJRx7SX62I9NAw_z99wLzg8UCZzT7Kpgyjeevj7a0_6uKbY/s400/farmers+village2.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The village children out for a break from class; they almost trampled me when I pulled out my camera...<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gptdwxdGQJ1fyhdNgfr2R_9XBlulvC5DGvreziov3x7dP8R2gdevA1yQ0Q39a5Yp09dV9QBjTM7zOnZaQlTL0evhzlfM7J46UWEgGQjU0T-fpkD0AmZWG-CmcPgXrdgDIJVK3S3vXnA/s1600-h/farmers+village3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104538743458195442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gptdwxdGQJ1fyhdNgfr2R_9XBlulvC5DGvreziov3x7dP8R2gdevA1yQ0Q39a5Yp09dV9QBjTM7zOnZaQlTL0evhzlfM7J46UWEgGQjU0T-fpkD0AmZWG-CmcPgXrdgDIJVK3S3vXnA/s400/farmers+village3.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>lunchbreak "tiffen" (food), menu: Chilli-fried chicken,veg khurma with chapatti... i love any kind of fried chicken. Masala-fried fish was also on today's special.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTFQpKYrc6tdT1q__n-D2TXqZEIVbGn5eV4dfrPzlmTvW4gyhyphenhyphenbOzxTApqylPRRHsO70N-EwhiByat7fER7iiJVRKgNodCAtgc-_1-VIxP4h166lM_w11t2_uxbgcsEXYo-gM3eZxLuI/s1600-h/lunch+break.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104538743458195458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTFQpKYrc6tdT1q__n-D2TXqZEIVbGn5eV4dfrPzlmTvW4gyhyphenhyphenbOzxTApqylPRRHsO70N-EwhiByat7fER7iiJVRKgNodCAtgc-_1-VIxP4h166lM_w11t2_uxbgcsEXYo-gM3eZxLuI/s400/lunch+break.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">Mr. S. Palanichamy with his family and neighbors in the Vannampatti village. Everyone in this village is either tied to or sustained by cotton farming.The men in the background in the button- ups are Mr. Vishvaasam and Mr. Saravanan, the guys that hosted me and bring education and knowledge to the farmers.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJGcoHoLM0qMKj2aAV22H2JX59uwDAIlNyS0Il6dBIxBaF6ltMoSkMQfzuwYZ6ddflrDRa4WkyWBso_JXe6hIwblB9sTgtBsX402tX-fCz-BucpRRDerTmOk6zVyaVMWirleFcOCHv5U/s1600-h/farmers4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104533507893061522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJGcoHoLM0qMKj2aAV22H2JX59uwDAIlNyS0Il6dBIxBaF6ltMoSkMQfzuwYZ6ddflrDRa4WkyWBso_JXe6hIwblB9sTgtBsX402tX-fCz-BucpRRDerTmOk6zVyaVMWirleFcOCHv5U/s400/farmers4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Mr. S. Palanichamy's daughters with the cotton that has been picked and cleaned.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eVOaBt6OXchr0fCHgYRpGuujDtbNNTFSnUeOurOxxNXdvzamjzF6PaEXiGPQdctVy1fgTnIdbmQ0xHRmIX1BMv_qtStiyGcC978PnKTHl67MJzDUZpMirLC5kT-Gz8Z_znHIK2kDQs0/s1600-h/farmers5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104533512188028834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eVOaBt6OXchr0fCHgYRpGuujDtbNNTFSnUeOurOxxNXdvzamjzF6PaEXiGPQdctVy1fgTnIdbmQ0xHRmIX1BMv_qtStiyGcC978PnKTHl67MJzDUZpMirLC5kT-Gz8Z_znHIK2kDQs0/s400/farmers5.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Mr. Jeyaraj with Mrs. Jeyaraj showing off the grandbaby<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCTjkG_oR-DkoeYfYLRO9CY4JN9ZtyPJm15wlvxK8HTFo8D4ucJZrmkIfJmyuD0Z41wIcudWEdn2I5ihkq1EudhKSEgLhni0kKwmXeKi93ziH3b8damIOVKynVhmSitRfVn7G-v11XJ0/s1600-h/farmers7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104533512188028850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCTjkG_oR-DkoeYfYLRO9CY4JN9ZtyPJm15wlvxK8HTFo8D4ucJZrmkIfJmyuD0Z41wIcudWEdn2I5ihkq1EudhKSEgLhni0kKwmXeKi93ziH3b8damIOVKynVhmSitRfVn7G-v11XJ0/s400/farmers7.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Vannampatti Catholic school children. There are also Hindu and Muslim families in the village.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_pyVZvQ9Toi6T2mvyag-0kNimHXKFHKxjmfyZK8pU2MIbvEe3dAbBriGxOOhJHK8leDJssD0r2jpcFBi-WRyJ7UdfGyQStFVwHbQGsi4m6MpF5UgEeJaqFU3K9jIi-pP9hO2zOPAFVI/s1600-h/farmers+village1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104533516482996162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_pyVZvQ9Toi6T2mvyag-0kNimHXKFHKxjmfyZK8pU2MIbvEe3dAbBriGxOOhJHK8leDJssD0r2jpcFBi-WRyJ7UdfGyQStFVwHbQGsi4m6MpF5UgEeJaqFU3K9jIi-pP9hO2zOPAFVI/s400/farmers+village1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">There are 16 different farmers "groups". Mr Jeyaraj is the president of the local farmers federation and showed me around his farm. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC0ik1IYHmeM8khiHSKnzvqFX5GuG-osLRVXEQeqyY8DuV7vlze7AFbGueOPrS_sT9As0xtXr70SvVaOAm4rdR6pAuvQBG8yxbZlhCnEhoJwBcBMUujgh_DnDryulxNqMmkqcfXPgANk/s1600-h/farmer1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104528259443025730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC0ik1IYHmeM8khiHSKnzvqFX5GuG-osLRVXEQeqyY8DuV7vlze7AFbGueOPrS_sT9As0xtXr70SvVaOAm4rdR6pAuvQBG8yxbZlhCnEhoJwBcBMUujgh_DnDryulxNqMmkqcfXPgANk/s400/farmer1.jpg" border="0" /></a>This rooster was very curious and hated my camera<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aBgS2fRZoHn_l-VoStw3CLFDXy0Dooxwmg_wVMypFBRu6OY6kCVZPkfb1Vvl6A16W3LX1fMmmAj9r3UgDT_OPVnpfJoaZs_wbAwKgGsPShIrfQMLU2k5gydH-C42xzbgmTZjfR-9MJ0/s1600-h/farmer2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104528263737993042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aBgS2fRZoHn_l-VoStw3CLFDXy0Dooxwmg_wVMypFBRu6OY6kCVZPkfb1Vvl6A16W3LX1fMmmAj9r3UgDT_OPVnpfJoaZs_wbAwKgGsPShIrfQMLU2k5gydH-C42xzbgmTZjfR-9MJ0/s400/farmer2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Indigenous cotton variety<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnAKbamZja_C1Gj06HR0cKZb_NX6dIhDbOCVFGqzngceBbyOek9W85a4vLubf1eh6sB34Nkv61W1S2rY8kTW35RyB0810Ai7sm299w-0tQLm6HeqJKsnYhh6qaC3sOgEVy4ApYI0hrKs/s1600-h/farmer3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104528268032960354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnAKbamZja_C1Gj06HR0cKZb_NX6dIhDbOCVFGqzngceBbyOek9W85a4vLubf1eh6sB34Nkv61W1S2rY8kTW35RyB0810Ai7sm299w-0tQLm6HeqJKsnYhh6qaC3sOgEVy4ApYI0hrKs/s400/farmer3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Peanuts and banana plants...here the peanuts are simply called "groundnuts" in english.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXbkngkQqcX-G-ge7P1G5xcWenT0f73tvlfALyYLZQh-jLXHyCluDeljAmol8jitiQBuxi5wXEPkM4e50jiq32T2Crd4XyqHZJwk9gLE2Ifn-BF-C1FBaU_18QSgkdXjHUQid24MmTy4/s1600-h/farmer6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104528272327927666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXbkngkQqcX-G-ge7P1G5xcWenT0f73tvlfALyYLZQh-jLXHyCluDeljAmol8jitiQBuxi5wXEPkM4e50jiq32T2Crd4XyqHZJwk9gLE2Ifn-BF-C1FBaU_18QSgkdXjHUQid24MmTy4/s400/farmer6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><space></div><div align="center">Mr. S. Palanichamy with some cotton...fresh picked!<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWISQ7iwTK-IoFV-MgajmM1CZVHQJrRzmTWracCyZMn0CkR0CsRyjGOiNmt3gvq-bQQVWt_PjAQyJNodz6RjbS9BRSHtyOvHcKGQAaB_eGgjZIYuPYYzzplAquKyVJi3qnS8vdAwy9iHw/s1600-h/farmer8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104528276622894978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWISQ7iwTK-IoFV-MgajmM1CZVHQJrRzmTWracCyZMn0CkR0CsRyjGOiNmt3gvq-bQQVWt_PjAQyJNodz6RjbS9BRSHtyOvHcKGQAaB_eGgjZIYuPYYzzplAquKyVJi3qnS8vdAwy9iHw/s400/farmer8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The Fair Trade vision here is based on four different components that are the basis of the NGO's work, my interest, and the well being of all the people involved . They are:<br /><br />1. No child labor is used<br />2. No use of chemical pesticides in the growing of the cotton<br />3. Equal wages for equal work<br />4. Social development, meaning the farmers meet together on a regular basis, share ideas, discuss problems and create relationships.<br /><br /><br /><br />One other thing that should be noted; the farmers use something called "menu" (FYM farmyard menu) which is a mix of organics as fertilizer consisting of compost and manure that eliminates the use of chemical fertilizers as well...this cotton is not "certified" organic...but will be in the future.(we are working on that)<br /><br />In 2006, 80 farmers were involved in the fair trade program. Due to climatic problems and social conflicts, 40 farmers produced cotton on 100 acres (2.5 acres each). The farmers grow the cotton along with the pulse called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_gram">"Bengal Gram" (chickpeasचिक्क्पास )</a> for consumption. The cotton is a very old, indigenous variety that has been in this valley for a long time, but they are now experimenting with some new ones that boost production very carefully. The local NGOs are monitoring the progress... but for now this variety is what I am using for my market bags. It is spun into a 10-15 ply size which is not recommended for clothing or bedding but is still perfect for my needs. This year there are 177 farmers from 8 villages in the fair trade program, and growing!Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-8305400301381022522007-08-27T03:26:00.000+05:302007-08-31T01:44:39.509+05:30Madurai fair trade cotton tour<div align="center">taking a break with some of the weavers<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3XVJAQa1OZ9-ToL8utosGe6_VxE7y3_BqPfXyZU4feYxpc1LaeX8Is1G1RHsKWY-VgiBZ6H-6BmeapcBbxjMss2U1GX1GjYhdfWwPQsU0LbeWyW8jf6qEeVHrZkTsrxhrVUUpSUhjZo/s1600-h/weave7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103139378688648882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3XVJAQa1OZ9-ToL8utosGe6_VxE7y3_BqPfXyZU4feYxpc1LaeX8Is1G1RHsKWY-VgiBZ6H-6BmeapcBbxjMss2U1GX1GjYhdfWwPQsU0LbeWyW8jf6qEeVHrZkTsrxhrVUUpSUhjZo/s400/weave7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">Ms. S. Audaiammal, Ms. G. Saraswathi, Ms. G.Rajeswari, Ms. M. Devarani, and Ms. S. Victoria Mary<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMEZBFXuPTTHyMLO-rMJeLnz7K02-WOIap1BoXmolRCBFtsCjVMh2zbNJ802oIGNJ_D3YZdoSrhHBOyvtQux5SRvc7T0FEmDfDxkINZukHS37VZwhihrn6FFzW0Dc2eorSdCAxTAGA-s/s1600-h/weave4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103139382983616194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMEZBFXuPTTHyMLO-rMJeLnz7K02-WOIap1BoXmolRCBFtsCjVMh2zbNJ802oIGNJ_D3YZdoSrhHBOyvtQux5SRvc7T0FEmDfDxkINZukHS37VZwhihrn6FFzW0Dc2eorSdCAxTAGA-s/s400/weave4.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Mr. P. Nachiar <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdr3xmkx-YqgnBVZxY_CeGzWPucrEQ08kJANhn61sn1VOg6eYgyJwAvCb_pyfYUeQOpGkV-TlmgGhIhyphenhyphenK0f5y_3hnN0UYK9V_4uoSxrh1KZOD6OQStqlIJeSw9zrKu3dih6KIUFD8By0/s1600-h/weaver6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103139387278583506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdr3xmkx-YqgnBVZxY_CeGzWPucrEQ08kJANhn61sn1VOg6eYgyJwAvCb_pyfYUeQOpGkV-TlmgGhIhyphenhyphenK0f5y_3hnN0UYK9V_4uoSxrh1KZOD6OQStqlIJeSw9zrKu3dih6KIUFD8By0/s400/weaver6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I just arrived back in Pondicherry from spending a week in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurai">Madurai</a>, and what a whirlwind! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurai">Madurai</a> is where my market bags are going to be made. I met with the CEO and staff of <a href="http://www.etc-india.org/">ETCIndia</a> and what a great meeting. We got a lot of logistics sorted out, business plan and contracts discussed, and had an inspiring brainstorm on the future for all the farmers and laborers involved. I visited the shops and some homes of people that will be working, and visited the farms where the cotton will be grown and harvested. Right now in a village outside of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dindigul_district">Dindigul</a>,which is a town north of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurai">Madurai</a>, the farmers and laborers just finished a harvest and we are going take this production for our first round of fair trade bags! The pics above are just a few that I have just finished resizing for the web, and alot more are on the way. I am so excited because I got to meet everyone; the farmers,field laborers,spinners,weavers, and the family of stitchers. From exchanging questions and answers through my translator in the villages, I am acutely aware of how family-oriented each process will be. Most of the workers in each process (from picking cotton to stitching) are entirely related and dependent on this work, and through the success of my project, they will be able to live a better existence and their children will be able to reap the benefits. Its a family affair- which is really a soft spot for me because I hold my own family in my thoughts and prayers constantly. I will be posting alot more detailed information and pictures in the days to come about my trip. </p>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-18664306911376531312007-08-01T12:47:00.000+05:302007-08-30T20:53:48.042+05:30Cemetary<object width="480" height="580" align="middle"><param name="FlashVars" VALUE="ids=72157601136593723&names=7.31 cemetary&userName=valliphoto&userId=8608299@N05&titles=on&source=sets"></param><param name="PictoBrowser" value="http://www.db798.com/pictobrowser.swf"></param><param name="scale" value="noscale"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param><embed src="http://www.db798.com/pictobrowser.swf" FlashVars="ids=72157601136593723&names=7.31 cemetary&userName=valliphoto&userId=8608299@N05&titles=on&source=sets" loop="false" quality="best" scale="noscale" bgcolor="#000000" width="480" height="580" name="PictoBrowser" align="middle"></embed></object><br />(Sorry for the "offcenteredness"....better view <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8608299@N05/sets/72157601136593723/show/">here</a>)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I went to a local cemetary to see how South Indians bury their Christian dead. The cemetary that I visited however seemed to have more French graves than Tamil ones but it was interesting to see the contrast from the cemetaries back home.Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-82518899818971122752007-08-01T12:34:00.000+05:302007-08-30T20:53:02.807+05:30Pondicherry Botanical Garden<object width="500" height="580" align="middle"><param name="FlashVars" VALUE="ids=72157601136697879&names=7.31 botanical&userName=valliphoto&userId=8608299@N05&titles=on&source=sets"></param><param name="PictoBrowser" value="http://www.db798.com/pictobrowser.swf"></param><param name="scale" value="noscale"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param><embed src="http://www.db798.com/pictobrowser.swf" FlashVars="ids=72157601136697879&names=7.31 botanical&userName=valliphoto&userId=8608299@N05&titles=on&source=sets" loop="false" quality="best" scale="noscale" bgcolor="#000000" width="500" height="580" name="PictoBrowser" align="middle"></embed></object><br />(can't fix it yet...please be patient...for <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8608299@N05/sets/72157601136697879/show/">better viewing</a>)<br /><br /><br />This picture browser includes some photos that I took at the Pondicherry Botanical Garden.Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-57970692594435701122007-07-22T10:37:00.000+05:302007-08-31T00:10:17.634+05:30Madurai fair trade cotton tour<div align="center">village Hindu festival North of Puducherry(Pondy)<br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbU9jkBR8CK-45YQpZNBdv52UKKtvNEtbSZ_2YhWWziiFWjj3dyRnoxE_zZjiL8mXSAy3fESa4Go6iFtYM8gh9zKvOqVATsQlwNOlWPrqWm4XuNUaVAv8tdMlne-rTw_UJhxaS3XLqQTo/s1600-h/7_22+grameen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089889284506446530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbU9jkBR8CK-45YQpZNBdv52UKKtvNEtbSZ_2YhWWziiFWjj3dyRnoxE_zZjiL8mXSAy3fESa4Go6iFtYM8gh9zKvOqVATsQlwNOlWPrqWm4XuNUaVAv8tdMlne-rTw_UJhxaS3XLqQTo/s400/7_22+grameen.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Since I have been researching for my fair trade project, I came across a book that is not about fair trade, but the more I read it, the more I am becoming inspired to do something myself. In working on my project, I am finding Mr. Muhammad Yunus' book <a href="http://www.bankertothepoor.com/bankertothepoor/">"Banker to the Poor"</a> fascinating. He is a Bangladeshi who, along with the <a href="http://www.grameenfoundation.org/nobel_prize/">Grameen Bank</a> which he started, won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. He is a visionary and a compassionate man that took baby steps in the beginning to help the poorest of the poor. I am posting an excerpt from his book below.<br /></p><p>"When she finally receives that $15 loan, she is literally trembling, shaking. the money is burning her fingers. Tears roll down her eyes because she has never seen so much money in all her life. She never imagined it in her hand. She carries it as she would a delicate bird or a rabbit, until someone tells her to put it away in a safe place lest anyone steals it.<br /><br />She cannot believe such a treasure has been put in her hands. This generally is the beginning for a <a href="http://www.grambangla.com/grameen/GramAlbum.php?photosby=sa">Grameen borrower</a>.<br /><br />All her life she has been told she was no good, that, being a woman, she only brought misery to her family, because they now had to pay for her dowry, which they could not afford. She has heard her mother or her father tell her many times that they should have killed her at birth, aborted her, or starved her. In fact, she has never heard anything good about herself, or about her being in the world. To her family she has been nothing but a mouth to feed; another dowry to pay.<br /><br />But today, for the first time in her life, an institution has trusted her with all this money. She is stunned. She promises herself she will never let down the institution which has trusted her so much. She will struggle to make sure every penny is paid back. And she does it." </p>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-4893759701153597732007-07-21T21:55:00.000+05:302007-07-21T22:45:57.801+05:30Indian jewelry<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmph5cdGbITcHGO9-FWyZTinfH0M0IlKO46fOxZygULmdwtEh6z0llqveIz4yefpTivARTPQE4io4oKn7NFAdGEbmtTulqBDrXpdTB9t5LMAWUYM75Oh-IIlXqB2Icg_EBKlC6DcDDp-8/s1600-h/7_21+jewelry.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089687734576147074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmph5cdGbITcHGO9-FWyZTinfH0M0IlKO46fOxZygULmdwtEh6z0llqveIz4yefpTivARTPQE4io4oKn7NFAdGEbmtTulqBDrXpdTB9t5LMAWUYM75Oh-IIlXqB2Icg_EBKlC6DcDDp-8/s400/7_21+jewelry.jpg" border="0" /></a> I have found jewelry is very important in the Indian culture. Even the poorest women wear gold that the family may go in debt for when they get married. It is a long standing tradition that pre-dates the birth of Christ and is necessary for the ceremony. 22k gold necklaces are the most popular sign of marriage, along with anklets on both ankles, nose rings (sometimes in both nostrils) and the all important bangle. The bangles come in all colors and mediums, plain and ornate. Red usually means one is married, white if she is a widow. Gold and red are the most popular and bring good fortune. I have posted here some jewelry that I think is beautiful, and some I have added to my personal collection.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtdu5QK3yADk-0oPIhbmlsvuZrsVS0zExO5MxBkeDdfzr1e4hFGFwmUPj9h6e6_Wh3rIydjCpK_LJNaIFIcuJjlToVb93ad4DkJkURE6U83cwDblPGKwNbFimFJmdT0yLSNHAXoz7d8k/s1600-h/7_21+jewelry+5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089687743166081682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtdu5QK3yADk-0oPIhbmlsvuZrsVS0zExO5MxBkeDdfzr1e4hFGFwmUPj9h6e6_Wh3rIydjCpK_LJNaIFIcuJjlToVb93ad4DkJkURE6U83cwDblPGKwNbFimFJmdT0yLSNHAXoz7d8k/s400/7_21+jewelry+5.jpg" border="0" /></a> The glass bangles are some of the most popular and you can find them sold anywhere and everywhere, in sets ranging from 6 to 10 bangles. Every woman wears bangles.<br />This necklace is strung with sapphires,rubies, emeralds, and topaz. Then it is finished off with the ever popular red and gold string. More strands can be added later. My mom "just had to have one" when she came here to visit me and it is a beautiful example of the Indian aesthetic.<br />The ring is one I bought from a Kashmiri who would only tell me that it came from "The North". I had to have it sized to fit and have no idea how he did it, but I love the weaving and the aquamarine is my birthstone. Most of the Kashmiris I have met in South India own jewelry stores. I have seen some amazing things that have also been made in Pakistan and Afghanistan which are neighboring countries.Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-13994490283920297882007-07-20T17:27:00.000+05:302007-07-21T23:09:02.600+05:30recent finds and yummy silk<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQpdrurnXLXcSREVKKY7ZhXjipWgEdRqsA3dlxpSkcwhzzllQIfr0sW-Bg86ZqUtZgF24Jwcb7MIM8neOfVnYs76FuduoCzhrSdLxkFVrFKU7-fgGAg7KEmnHbY52BFg-_Qokeip5nDs/s1600-h/7_20++hot+pads.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089704695401999026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQpdrurnXLXcSREVKKY7ZhXjipWgEdRqsA3dlxpSkcwhzzllQIfr0sW-Bg86ZqUtZgF24Jwcb7MIM8neOfVnYs76FuduoCzhrSdLxkFVrFKU7-fgGAg7KEmnHbY52BFg-_Qokeip5nDs/s400/7_20++hot+pads.jpg" border="0" /></a> use these to cool your masala casserole.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsy5pZJ8kEymPe6UUS9SkKCZy5FxFePUfWPF6Lf7Y4t3hUIyswUAuUV2rnmarI_l5exLzw4IxZlORSVv36_FYvIjxShV_hzIPBg-091Sta-7eMGRruKb-cvAo7Do2a2xpU8CZgXxlroNc/s1600-h/7_20+2cottons.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089703467041352354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsy5pZJ8kEymPe6UUS9SkKCZy5FxFePUfWPF6Lf7Y4t3hUIyswUAuUV2rnmarI_l5exLzw4IxZlORSVv36_FYvIjxShV_hzIPBg-091Sta-7eMGRruKb-cvAo7Do2a2xpU8CZgXxlroNc/s400/7_20+2cottons.jpg" border="0" /></a> 100% cotton for heat and humidity. I can't really wear anything else in South Georgia or South India. The pic on the left is for a blouse, the pic on the right are huge bags for using on my 50 cc grocery getter, kick start and go.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2HbozmlWS81tHAOjdyFMqAhk_Ol9qNC010FOhnyETznQWRk8mLYCu8e-cteDa8FnO8cczp0bzSavtClGIPNIZEiQuaFUP-v-iNivumIgynQgd7rEnaMwTDDyAIbFrGt2XyK4W6egAIo/s1600-h/7_20bag9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089563953618676338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2HbozmlWS81tHAOjdyFMqAhk_Ol9qNC010FOhnyETznQWRk8mLYCu8e-cteDa8FnO8cczp0bzSavtClGIPNIZEiQuaFUP-v-iNivumIgynQgd7rEnaMwTDDyAIbFrGt2XyK4W6egAIo/s400/7_20bag9.jpg" border="0" /></a> Mr. Handpainted Punjabi </div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoVG9UC3MrzlbskSdKp-z3yYUbAgJe_tdAcNayYxuacOeQbUs6DYeLKg6EXalLXHKIx2GhVwnUlKyzUHlkWs4-OE5n49pB9kuejAZ2JL1kRVOfN55Bbt0rPqNBFvChO1aGU9iR5Pu_Is/s1600-h/7_20bag6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089562772502669922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoVG9UC3MrzlbskSdKp-z3yYUbAgJe_tdAcNayYxuacOeQbUs6DYeLKg6EXalLXHKIx2GhVwnUlKyzUHlkWs4-OE5n49pB9kuejAZ2JL1kRVOfN55Bbt0rPqNBFvChO1aGU9iR5Pu_Is/s400/7_20bag6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center">silkscreen print....<br /><br />"What is your name and how are your feelings?"<br /><br />"My name is Meenakshi, and leave me alone."<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">(courtesy of Nirvana in Pondicherry)</span><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtlFYwVdoS8VYySF0_FVXO4B5zaSXHsjcbR3nzLDi0QAQn8InAtZgbM8AvkrJmgB0akNBcLVgzNFMcKoELDw4xdFasD8eiKhHJqPQGCw_QAVRpCQXEVDmwhj7c1daF9f1TL3sbsHLvxA/s1600-h/7_20bag3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089555896260028946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtlFYwVdoS8VYySF0_FVXO4B5zaSXHsjcbR3nzLDi0QAQn8InAtZgbM8AvkrJmgB0akNBcLVgzNFMcKoELDw4xdFasD8eiKhHJqPQGCw_QAVRpCQXEVDmwhj7c1daF9f1TL3sbsHLvxA/s400/7_20bag3.jpg" border="0" /></a> black silk and white cotton</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSua77TCjUUvUKXVgLRbPqdZ3styRPcdtO-WuMqMxq7CKGcfklXf_vtCxxo9UQaDTjnTvPTYYgEElHKQt49Mod6bXlIV-iO9PPOaSr_RlKfg1NzvozLKMrKshMafVw0NEEWvVrRF5cOIA/s1600-h/7_20bag5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089277295599498786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSua77TCjUUvUKXVgLRbPqdZ3styRPcdtO-WuMqMxq7CKGcfklXf_vtCxxo9UQaDTjnTvPTYYgEElHKQt49Mod6bXlIV-iO9PPOaSr_RlKfg1NzvozLKMrKshMafVw0NEEWvVrRF5cOIA/s400/7_20bag5.jpg" border="0" /></a> scarves<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis22TWtWpqPseGky0qeUjFUbnNOaPA1Cgnc_dJ2Fy-1tyel-5gB2tJEV9HIQlypC8woQn54S5APTciKySv35c3l8mmU0jsxguh4QibQoRUOM2Z4A-5dJZE_1kam8yDNSl-DsyBBbqLo5M/s1600-h/7_20bag1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089276732958782994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis22TWtWpqPseGky0qeUjFUbnNOaPA1Cgnc_dJ2Fy-1tyel-5gB2tJEV9HIQlypC8woQn54S5APTciKySv35c3l8mmU0jsxguh4QibQoRUOM2Z4A-5dJZE_1kam8yDNSl-DsyBBbqLo5M/s400/7_20bag1.jpg" border="0" /></a> my new golden design!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kpK_GPjCy4vP0viX2iKHyoNbT7IzHYxovVkWE73nWvo9X2UPpbuq9PvM_IKz4NGTS-Sny-W2uH1ch6tvtjffs5BYNauh5lQTGlXx5Nls3pxHKxEjIURYvwNP-ef4ULYKGY9OPB9OCu0/s1600-h/7_20bag10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089247952382932482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kpK_GPjCy4vP0viX2iKHyoNbT7IzHYxovVkWE73nWvo9X2UPpbuq9PvM_IKz4NGTS-Sny-W2uH1ch6tvtjffs5BYNauh5lQTGlXx5Nls3pxHKxEjIURYvwNP-ef4ULYKGY9OPB9OCu0/s400/7_20bag10.jpg" border="0" /></a> chocolate silk with strawberry filling</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiby8P3cZLaGziK5jK9QvZ67pR-o7HlxL_pVKpsZMTrzCBi7cQdHi6QEcdOV7V-O7rjEpTVHH4J3Mu2mZuU0tgxv3Ps_jqRnvpcZQz-ZpUlJeUNBjX_OZ-3Muw4WLKv7hjw-cDSiAXu4/s1600-h/7_20bag11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089247668915090930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiby8P3cZLaGziK5jK9QvZ67pR-o7HlxL_pVKpsZMTrzCBi7cQdHi6QEcdOV7V-O7rjEpTVHH4J3Mu2mZuU0tgxv3Ps_jqRnvpcZQz-ZpUlJeUNBjX_OZ-3Muw4WLKv7hjw-cDSiAXu4/s400/7_20bag11.jpg" border="0" /></a> toffee and buttercream </div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-44423522218894827782007-07-20T12:43:00.000+05:302007-07-21T22:29:43.547+05:30Fairtrade is not a marketing "green" scheme.<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGfxo2q6NNKlmxn4zJY4TWY_zHIPBL1ltX8nv-wHPFUsyxY3Q9VyHlZZlHupbsV6qlVk_Y2dfJNoii_IWp0ABPwIhlKACHlhceRFaAQmQhD62FkFJcgPYNpm8-XKmAkIWAy_DPNG6iUA/s1600-h/19_Fairtrade%20Mark.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089174345233413554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGfxo2q6NNKlmxn4zJY4TWY_zHIPBL1ltX8nv-wHPFUsyxY3Q9VyHlZZlHupbsV6qlVk_Y2dfJNoii_IWp0ABPwIhlKACHlhceRFaAQmQhD62FkFJcgPYNpm8-XKmAkIWAy_DPNG6iUA/s400/19_Fairtrade%2520Mark.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHH6mX14Qx4DnG8NOer_IG1-d8-HPaWZzAV7iDCtq2Hu3Z_aa0wqFEpr_RV3dtuYOI_4I5o8gNXzzvi8l-7iCUiYMcDTXaSgxDvRSHDBrS1OKcmR2hGb-GQdYQ9Z9mjntS4pjHYv7AYKQ/s1600-h/Ftomark.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089174349528380866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHH6mX14Qx4DnG8NOer_IG1-d8-HPaWZzAV7iDCtq2Hu3Z_aa0wqFEpr_RV3dtuYOI_4I5o8gNXzzvi8l-7iCUiYMcDTXaSgxDvRSHDBrS1OKcmR2hGb-GQdYQ9Z9mjntS4pjHYv7AYKQ/s400/Ftomark.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YNkJqFtLSjE2Zj1Vz-s7jrFbGyBMot6Ci1qcY4gYXHAQauCrn_EGBmBQ7QOxF9n5po403rXgJGppBxv71D9XJLi2BPkO5UoDSLuTNyiDGqT74quCCEP7UgdMI6MCknJSpLM65b2ar4g/s1600-h/logoFairTradeFederation.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089174349528380882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YNkJqFtLSjE2Zj1Vz-s7jrFbGyBMot6Ci1qcY4gYXHAQauCrn_EGBmBQ7QOxF9n5po403rXgJGppBxv71D9XJLi2BPkO5UoDSLuTNyiDGqT74quCCEP7UgdMI6MCknJSpLM65b2ar4g/s400/logoFairTradeFederation.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0DwGw1jFbigl00es6JkJweF71h3nwHKINh9j98_ShDntRjLn8dTuNj4TeR5C57fpzOCptlHebKqc7srGjq3ENSck1qZVc3jsQqzShFyLlz85e9iyePUSyAh-YEWCV6HIiRTdq3_VyeM/s1600-h/cs_thumb.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089174349528380898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0DwGw1jFbigl00es6JkJweF71h3nwHKINh9j98_ShDntRjLn8dTuNj4TeR5C57fpzOCptlHebKqc7srGjq3ENSck1qZVc3jsQqzShFyLlz85e9iyePUSyAh-YEWCV6HIiRTdq3_VyeM/s400/cs_thumb.bmp" border="0" /></a> These are different images and logos you can look for when wanting to buy fairtrade, which I know you all do!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Why buy Fairtrade?</strong></span><br />Millions of small farmers around the world cannot get enough money to feed their families, send their children to school or invest just a few dollars into their farm. This is because people want to buy the cheapest goods possible and don’t think about the people working in poor conditions, cheap labour, and often receive less than $2.00 per day in wages.<br />Buying products that display the Fairtrade logo ensures that the producers of products, i.e. tea, coffee, cotton and chocolate receive a decent income. Rather than being hit by the ever-changing price of their product on the global market, or being schemed by a middleman who takes a big share of the profits, producers in a Fairtrade agreement are guaranteed a decent, stable price for their produce.<br />By buying Fairtrade products that buy direct from farmers at better prices, consumers are improving the lives of producers all over the world. This extra money enables the farmers to educate their children and to break the cycle of poverty.<br />Many people struggle to find a reason not to support Fairtrade. Fairtrade is about fair terms, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and dignity for farmers. Fair trade is not about charity, it is about settling the imbalance which exists. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;">stats and info credited to <a href="http://www.guidemegreen.com/">http://www.guidemegreen.com/</a></span><br /></div><div align="center"></div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-25525576038415633772007-07-07T06:54:00.000+05:302007-07-07T07:19:23.201+05:30Ladies<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqOmR_i5JWOiFwZezTKg4RPuTkPGJmYZPEM_Up43e0qXSAPsDj6ndzDUM5aE1bVz74oEL3t0bMVHig0XpSlBJ9UkFOy3rU-zsp07ii6T6oOCl5j5sqzigUjSKtqv1a0edVTLXJ4dIYNI/s1600-h/dancer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084263084683406338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqOmR_i5JWOiFwZezTKg4RPuTkPGJmYZPEM_Up43e0qXSAPsDj6ndzDUM5aE1bVz74oEL3t0bMVHig0XpSlBJ9UkFOy3rU-zsp07ii6T6oOCl5j5sqzigUjSKtqv1a0edVTLXJ4dIYNI/s400/dancer.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is one of the performers at the celebration. She is wearing the traditional South Indian dress, more specifically in the fashion of the state, Tamil Nadu.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYz9zpKddWYBvtpUzzh8aYIXtBdhEn_tKI72dP6E6-LQtxGz27SXElhwavjY1BDheuqaVRdQ8IufGuwWQQ_3dpnpKOnpXUbhd-H_vbBnoQvrs5H4At7WqroR7xCCisVSD0ewjzd84W0M/s1600-h/cool+mama.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084262917179681778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYz9zpKddWYBvtpUzzh8aYIXtBdhEn_tKI72dP6E6-LQtxGz27SXElhwavjY1BDheuqaVRdQ8IufGuwWQQ_3dpnpKOnpXUbhd-H_vbBnoQvrs5H4At7WqroR7xCCisVSD0ewjzd84W0M/s400/cool+mama.jpg" border="0" /></a>coolest lady at the party.<br /><br />I wanted to post these pics because they are a couple my favorites from a womens' day celebration I went to in March. There were over 100 hundred villages represented and about 800-900 lovely ladies that attended, along with their kids. The celebration was to honor different womens' clubs that are formed in the villages to supplement their husbands' income. A group of women come together and decide what business or trade they would like to do. Then a local NGO that specializes in microfinancing and management helps the club in securing a loan, paying it back, saving their money, and then loaning it out to other clubs for a very small rate. It was so awesome to see these ladies in action. </div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-10410456225597985392007-07-05T17:11:00.000+05:302007-08-31T00:02:48.680+05:30logo design background<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaJPf_gu7PzB-2QONwby5TQO508aaWHMhcmDQTHlsB6z_XK6hq8vusupW6Y_2k3_OJo_yjk3k8YOY4KAicKjJrDgdm6_034oAwC6ritSK-ldlP2J2jA20LqBUbG_ZgZsT4FcRTHaWXMk/s1600-h/BLOGGER2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084334982435941394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaJPf_gu7PzB-2QONwby5TQO508aaWHMhcmDQTHlsB6z_XK6hq8vusupW6Y_2k3_OJo_yjk3k8YOY4KAicKjJrDgdm6_034oAwC6ritSK-ldlP2J2jA20LqBUbG_ZgZsT4FcRTHaWXMk/s400/BLOGGER2.jpg" border="0" /></a>These are possible print designs for my project.I want to use the Banyan tree because it is beautiful, recognizable, and represents life to these Tamil people. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLqiAvB2xys0k3Ip35-LK_tJpM35odDZ6hSE2BmYiOexPGayakIgfD8L4I5khdLTeiO-A0ikqY-kSvyFAowXTFwGb_aYf9SGdKHVjjMivFNLvkPp2MIIj6QbWpFsu2mkLw4hjKgZkyNQ/s1600-h/13+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083739218932378594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLqiAvB2xys0k3Ip35-LK_tJpM35odDZ6hSE2BmYiOexPGayakIgfD8L4I5khdLTeiO-A0ikqY-kSvyFAowXTFwGb_aYf9SGdKHVjjMivFNLvkPp2MIIj6QbWpFsu2mkLw4hjKgZkyNQ/s400/13+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is Tamil for the "Banyan Tree".(pronounced "allah-madame") It is a sacred tree in Asia, and it seems to be very sacred in South India. The Banyan tree not only represents the family but it also represents eternal life. The tree supports its wide canopy by growing "prop roots" from its branches. These roots hang down in a widening circle outwards. The <a class="redlink" title="Sanskrit name" href="http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/banyan_plant_profile.html">Sanskrit name</a> for the Banyan is <strong>bahupada</strong> which means 'one with many feet'. Chandrah told me that the trunk always represents the elders, and the prop roots represent the ever expanding family members, all connected from above. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div>ई <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD95jr2lbjTX65oHVsvaOTX8knI1Svz65O9GnPb3gFVuI7ylBz4HJHX59SUGRlfBdqMjSzUG3F5I7IMlVwpXS5vNl2f7wZdMB-4kwu1Oy8hfHBz1IRxEpOkNLLItixsl5jssR-lb1ykI/s1600-h/banyan+trunk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083677212489526194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD95jr2lbjTX65oHVsvaOTX8knI1Svz65O9GnPb3gFVuI7ylBz4HJHX59SUGRlfBdqMjSzUG3F5I7IMlVwpXS5vNl2f7wZdMB-4kwu1Oy8hfHBz1IRxEpOkNLLItixsl5jssR-lb1ykI/s400/banyan+trunk.jpg" border="0" /></a>I took this of a great Banyan trunk I found. It's so intricate. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I really fell in love with these trees and there are many great examples on the outskirts of Pondicherry and in Auroville. There were two in particular that I liked to see when living in Auroville. One was near a natural water drainage so alot of the soil was washed away. Not only did it have tons of prop roots hanging from the branches, but almost the entire root system underground was exposed. It looked as if it could fall over any minute, but that didn't stop all the old men from smoking beedis and squating to talk all day everyday in the shade. I am sure they have all the world's problems solved by now, but Tamil is a hard language to understand and comprehend so I didn't stop and ask. The other tree that always caught my attention just sat in the foreground of a picturesque landscape; complete with a pond full of lotus and a tiny bright blue temple with fuschia trim.</div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-7895561003542999952007-07-04T09:35:00.000+05:302007-07-07T13:42:28.617+05:30informal project introductionToday is July 4th, I almost forgot. In the mornings, I check the news back home to see what is happening. Although I probably will not see any fireworks today, or eat any grilled hamburgers and potatoe salad...go swimming and eat red velvet cake with too much cream cheese icing that I LOVE....baked beans. There are fireworks here,ALOT, usually on the weekends for some religious festival or temple celebration.<br /><br />I have been waiting anxiously to go to Madurai. It is a city kind of central South India. I have been corresponding with a local director for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade">fair trade</a> cotton. The organization he works with is called Educational Training Consultants. Here is the link, <a href="http://www.etcindia.org/">http://www.etcindia.org/</a>, they have many projects in the works but the one I am currently interested in is the organic cotton producers. This includes local farmers who are producing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade">fair trade</a> cotton. I will be going into the field and visiting their offices at the end of July. I want to use this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade">fair trade</a> cotton to produce market bags that benefit these farmers, help eliminate the question "plastic or paper?", and selfishly, allow me to return to India to do more things here. I love it here, but seeing all this poverty and cheap, cheap labor breaks my heart sometimes. I will be posting some random things until I go to Madurai, and then I will come back with some fabulous photos to show how the process will work in making my bags! I already have three designs that I have been working on, and hopefully I will have some samples soon.Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-78234056296744506562007-07-04T08:20:00.000+05:302007-07-21T10:58:47.495+05:30<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqR55ju6zfKB10qGC-oLC_rnbnWfire9GiqP63m0VHBQQpE_HpMPxviba89Q1YbmPWW5V2mOa_swZw5SX3gEBFQnJ_btFQOvVnSnBVcTJiCTgy_6eCfVc7VqBtUL5uz4q0fbnmBhCDpGk/s1600-h/praveens+dad.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083182969127938946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqR55ju6zfKB10qGC-oLC_rnbnWfire9GiqP63m0VHBQQpE_HpMPxviba89Q1YbmPWW5V2mOa_swZw5SX3gEBFQnJ_btFQOvVnSnBVcTJiCTgy_6eCfVc7VqBtUL5uz4q0fbnmBhCDpGk/s400/praveens+dad.jpg" border="0" /></a>I took some family portraits of Chandrah, Praveen and Chandrah's husband ( I don't remember her husband's name because I rarely ever see him and she doesn't ever mention him by name, just "husband"). Chandrah helps us out around the house and we pay her to cook because that is definitly one of her many talents. She and her husband are both tailors, and they are adding a small store front on to the side of their house today, along with a new roof.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsvy-K0gww3QINb3UTWAdtDfj5q9RpOdvMxUTNK3XUnJprJ_ASep3GthFJS11k8roD5lYDQiQCexy-K2y8XzZyhfxcTvxLIfeWv0hiKLO_XiCvC3zJll17fn7ABrt9tJybXqxkWyQtIY/s1600-h/prav+and+chandrah.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083182973422906258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsvy-K0gww3QINb3UTWAdtDfj5q9RpOdvMxUTNK3XUnJprJ_ASep3GthFJS11k8roD5lYDQiQCexy-K2y8XzZyhfxcTvxLIfeWv0hiKLO_XiCvC3zJll17fn7ABrt9tJybXqxkWyQtIY/s400/prav+and+chandrah.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdF-Y78Bdi18VEga1ytO_RKxOyebM40o9wpUPwY4fgIfoeTyDzO3M2dPgfDhnYs5uaR4SLfULjBmMocPVOfIodWOLzTtuXrJAk6SFWsi-WH6SjGfMCjAncOHr76ze2ng9dvfnsYyXDpk/s1600-h/interior+portrait.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083182664185260914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdF-Y78Bdi18VEga1ytO_RKxOyebM40o9wpUPwY4fgIfoeTyDzO3M2dPgfDhnYs5uaR4SLfULjBmMocPVOfIodWOLzTtuXrJAk6SFWsi-WH6SjGfMCjAncOHr76ze2ng9dvfnsYyXDpk/s400/interior+portrait.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhce8BtG6Ub3FDPXTUFpMeNsAkIKUx6mNuOrk6UveEe8DvXLeEB7jJ3G-194P2BHsX8mAbgVeVrXcajljkVM6Xi4qFR_2tupL-euqO3Kqt35p4uHz3lv1nhvb_-CTtBandhQV92uZSVOKg/s1600-h/preveen+family.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083182294818073442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhce8BtG6Ub3FDPXTUFpMeNsAkIKUx6mNuOrk6UveEe8DvXLeEB7jJ3G-194P2BHsX8mAbgVeVrXcajljkVM6Xi4qFR_2tupL-euqO3Kqt35p4uHz3lv1nhvb_-CTtBandhQV92uZSVOKg/s400/preveen+family.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPs23fCKkuFvWmLggNJmR_sdOhcF4HRLjOcY7tzy6eJVQN2TEDwAFD9z9gNMD-Yxd0TAqJ1GeLQsyKu2dsBvpE1URmHX5VgbLBWdvOGBZUdpwQpzQwyEHQYYuyM8ZcCEdzxE3ZbehQ5w/s1600-h/house2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083169070613769010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPs23fCKkuFvWmLggNJmR_sdOhcF4HRLjOcY7tzy6eJVQN2TEDwAFD9z9gNMD-Yxd0TAqJ1GeLQsyKu2dsBvpE1URmHX5VgbLBWdvOGBZUdpwQpzQwyEHQYYuyM8ZcCEdzxE3ZbehQ5w/s400/house2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I took this pic from the street corner. The woven coconut leaf panels on the ground are the new roof. They will keep the house nice and dry when the monsoon season arrives in October. These panels cost about 300 rupees each which is about $7.50 cents. Praveen and Chandrah have been living with us for a while because their roof has deteriorated completely. We walked down this morning to the house about 7:00 a.m. to meet the installers, but I left at 8:00 and they still had not arrived. Where I am from, time seems to run a little behind schedule and in South India I think it's about the same way.</div></div></div></div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-68868508925643100372007-06-21T17:44:00.000+05:302007-08-30T23:47:46.859+05:30Granite sculpture<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85EW8oN-Tlzwhhdv670gUVCk5CTQQODlY1AWNycLLCUstKVlnKDnpqC6Oeg7Njm766wts0zqCI2fEBkKgsVobktyVUQe9hfEjZwwk2bzho46qip4hI64tue4z9PPEok1HBXxxOq3tBBA/s1600-h/IMGP9754.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078493553341890386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85EW8oN-Tlzwhhdv670gUVCk5CTQQODlY1AWNycLLCUstKVlnKDnpqC6Oeg7Njm766wts0zqCI2fEBkKgsVobktyVUQe9hfEjZwwk2bzho46qip4hI64tue4z9PPEok1HBXxxOq3tBBA/s400/IMGP9754.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0Mf8golrWLOA79vrOu6Y2gzCAc24Zk2l8kuKyyi5YFpZ4q_EEKjpSlyDIR8B580G4d1RDIiE9fydriioGrmb36uesXWsSH3OSaxu_BRHM0GxkQhOCbGDVqOh371y78MI17SnadZeO2o/s1600-h/web+7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078491723685822258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0Mf8golrWLOA79vrOu6Y2gzCAc24Zk2l8kuKyyi5YFpZ4q_EEKjpSlyDIR8B580G4d1RDIiE9fydriioGrmb36uesXWsSH3OSaxu_BRHM0GxkQhOCbGDVqOh371y78MI17SnadZeO2o/s400/web+7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQQ0hoNT7gtRnS22yaHwyo40FNDO_O2w5gP5NCGnkmWMURrzNYITqEsk21tRvM5S6OqTzl6HivSSun26TQ7LmQPvyqq_SswBiUchJgU1Oq8qao2HPTHQT1yX_tFq2wnw9irnepG_pfhs/s1600-h/IMGP9776.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078491723685822274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQQ0hoNT7gtRnS22yaHwyo40FNDO_O2w5gP5NCGnkmWMURrzNYITqEsk21tRvM5S6OqTzl6HivSSun26TQ7LmQPvyqq_SswBiUchJgU1Oq8qao2HPTHQT1yX_tFq2wnw9irnepG_pfhs/s400/IMGP9776.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">These are very very large not-so-low relief murals hand carved out of granite from southern India. I love them, especially the tree... and the fish. A little more info down below.</div></div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-44824891170811309002007-06-21T16:51:00.000+05:302007-08-30T23:48:38.611+05:30Granite sculpture<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWexHoLKF6HlouXkw0mvFmOxrRjPCNO3VLYhnK-LZjD4VfvN5dLOWBpVPmdOZNn5QEskrcIiy-GER5gmBo75bcU5svwSCYDyZn6Vcpbg3oQZjXbX2-8r5-Jv2y_VLPQv2gKb-FNHNgiP8/s1600-h/IMGP9760.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078484967702265602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWexHoLKF6HlouXkw0mvFmOxrRjPCNO3VLYhnK-LZjD4VfvN5dLOWBpVPmdOZNn5QEskrcIiy-GER5gmBo75bcU5svwSCYDyZn6Vcpbg3oQZjXbX2-8r5-Jv2y_VLPQv2gKb-FNHNgiP8/s320/IMGP9760.jpg" border="0" /></a> I recently went to a sculpture garden showcasing work by artisans from a small town by the ocean called Mamallapuram. It is located between Madras and Pondicherry. This is a private garden owned by a granite company that ships granite all over the world; I saw one really beautiful tombstone going to Minnesota. Anyway, the sculptors are taught by the older generations in their families . They have been doing this type of work for hundreds and hundreds of years. The work in my photographs were all commissioned by the company with its own granite transformed. I was so lucky to be able to come here; it is also only about two hundred yards from the beach. I was awestruck. Many of these works were done from pictures and drawings from people everywhere commissioning these sculptures, and then the company keeps this garden to show prospective clients. I want one for my birthday.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumWBs4QdfVlDxgTfGTIvVSyR_-Bl7pNUpkpc_T9-RHuu0igIukPsSvtohRaP7tUree2JRfSkeRuzDI21GXZxwi49sH5oDW2txWGC3HNH_YPbGd_rvP1ox3S_-_EW71w8zDWlbAeqDGnU/s1600-h/IMGP9767.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078484971997232914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumWBs4QdfVlDxgTfGTIvVSyR_-Bl7pNUpkpc_T9-RHuu0igIukPsSvtohRaP7tUree2JRfSkeRuzDI21GXZxwi49sH5oDW2txWGC3HNH_YPbGd_rvP1ox3S_-_EW71w8zDWlbAeqDGnU/s320/IMGP9767.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is Shiva. He is very strong and powerful in the Hindu religion. He is believed by the Hindus to be the god of death, which also signifies rebirth.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078484971997232930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V-yuwyYvkZsfUrhaVHiAr_eabPLYCv893Zym-JEQ6zmhEmmnwsSJ0OsO5yGcr0ApC84fxaJQuK0YTMgVzvr8e1Z2IiSKdFyMTAsYvM6gZVNzdmH7pG8e84jOTvQ1WRrobTdK33BdxHk/s320/IMGP9771.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4CVsdnff1A5TjZDhlmmu6NVLUql-FyB5Y504TSgdHqfWY0pE0tWfa5W2SxxOgEDmeSJtK3M8qsK4h4RGDRlr0exio_FwZ49SbH8WINX_ojE7RG2p8MYsm7icC9HBE8yIgDhtY83iq3c/s1600-h/IMGP9769+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078477511639039682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4CVsdnff1A5TjZDhlmmu6NVLUql-FyB5Y504TSgdHqfWY0pE0tWfa5W2SxxOgEDmeSJtK3M8qsK4h4RGDRlr0exio_FwZ49SbH8WINX_ojE7RG2p8MYsm7icC9HBE8yIgDhtY83iq3c/s320/IMGP9769+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">(above left)In the foreground is buddha as a very thin and serious man. Most images depict buddha as chubby and bald. (right)This one reminds me of an American Indian totem pole.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhrbDjxqqCs9ADVX1bScEilKcSF8B597O9xRFKsIClcajhMiF7QR1fw8W7GAOvS0tUPKDUrxLWqXLpGEtiqakkmYmKCAVPl0Nu56qeacUoiJpA0VqDi5GNOwo1KE6UzHYvRkS1UKfBL0/s1600-h/IMGP9757.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078477515934006994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhrbDjxqqCs9ADVX1bScEilKcSF8B597O9xRFKsIClcajhMiF7QR1fw8W7GAOvS0tUPKDUrxLWqXLpGEtiqakkmYmKCAVPl0Nu56qeacUoiJpA0VqDi5GNOwo1KE6UzHYvRkS1UKfBL0/s320/IMGP9757.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br />This is one of my favorites because it reminds me of home. One time an alligator about this size chased my little brother up a tree when he and my dad were seining a little fishing hole. Daddy wanted to have a fish fry for the whole family at Easter. Not only did we have alot of fish that got scared into the net, but we also had gator tail.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left">All this beautifully cut grass that you see is cut by hand. Local women are hired to water it and cut it with sickles. I haven't seen a riding lawnmower since I arrived.</div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-46967380067371646542007-06-20T19:00:00.000+05:302007-07-07T13:20:16.287+05:30<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk90vV_KrV4XSttYn4u4cPx_g50f08oxUf8FtNyi2JDuMo1DSPiUlSV9zq8QCDnCONbFyQz661WtYutkPZMS5ZH1RErNCOCNte33LoA7hz-vPkV6agFpHIBVS1rRatKbfkEzRMy9xgg4/s1600-h/ladies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078146313825943186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk90vV_KrV4XSttYn4u4cPx_g50f08oxUf8FtNyi2JDuMo1DSPiUlSV9zq8QCDnCONbFyQz661WtYutkPZMS5ZH1RErNCOCNte33LoA7hz-vPkV6agFpHIBVS1rRatKbfkEzRMy9xgg4/s400/ladies.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxviufhmKJhG4rf0YRgC8pfemKVIMEv8yw-bpDoHhCB_fLL_XhwMbYRs_gfrpZGBvkvlMyd1K9_WInGMPIhLqpOxHhdKDiHqVe6Z1kwYEYlqcimFhLZKfp3lWYUV29HyLgramEO_THog/s1600-h/daniel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078146313825943202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxviufhmKJhG4rf0YRgC8pfemKVIMEv8yw-bpDoHhCB_fLL_XhwMbYRs_gfrpZGBvkvlMyd1K9_WInGMPIhLqpOxHhdKDiHqVe6Z1kwYEYlqcimFhLZKfp3lWYUV29HyLgramEO_THog/s400/daniel.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYg8Oz1CeidqXDGPH2N8rGsijayTIc6zNBzGEcrI8J0UtXYAKyg2FAmyYdWReFnkURkMdCGZL6v7DH1YpAWfLBqoCnDWoItrny_6nEpb9hyk1OHwoC2KjIRJ4al07SDzQIjwLyNP3AeEA/s1600-h/Tamil.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078145935868821122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYg8Oz1CeidqXDGPH2N8rGsijayTIc6zNBzGEcrI8J0UtXYAKyg2FAmyYdWReFnkURkMdCGZL6v7DH1YpAWfLBqoCnDWoItrny_6nEpb9hyk1OHwoC2KjIRJ4al07SDzQIjwLyNP3AeEA/s400/Tamil.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><br />Above is a Bible scripture translated into Tamil by one of my Indian friends..it says,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">"Love each other. Just as I haved loved you, you should love each other."</div><br /><br /><div align="center">John 13:34<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-61677457124501431872007-06-20T18:56:00.000+05:302007-07-07T13:16:46.846+05:30<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59Z2Mc7H3nd2c75eNH-uNrA2Oz2u7JakcmuNGzp4TLvt6JWC1PSx6va8wi25wtQ_4_cLV5bzPclHGmbo0Y_sFQaXskcMY7wTBRLzbjpbZCDmdSb-C9vw_Hcxi9UkMh3nrvqK6o7G5i3M/s1600-h/IMGP0039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078138011654159938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59Z2Mc7H3nd2c75eNH-uNrA2Oz2u7JakcmuNGzp4TLvt6JWC1PSx6va8wi25wtQ_4_cLV5bzPclHGmbo0Y_sFQaXskcMY7wTBRLzbjpbZCDmdSb-C9vw_Hcxi9UkMh3nrvqK6o7G5i3M/s320/IMGP0039.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">i love this fabric.</div></div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-21770401761182393782007-06-20T16:54:00.000+05:302007-08-30T23:52:21.547+05:30<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D2ZDRkpk_hq6vCUPhd8OcXTX8NHFMhyphenhyphenm7h46TXNDZ40GRCc0pKnk14rmyLgzZGfJtj_-YZ-xD-10sU8OPFm60w3JSAgDCaf9Ye7tm1GH892smujero2RXrznm7BpKuKojlIfSnyHSzo/s1600-h/madurai+map+for+blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084381930723453986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D2ZDRkpk_hq6vCUPhd8OcXTX8NHFMhyphenhyphenm7h46TXNDZ40GRCc0pKnk14rmyLgzZGfJtj_-YZ-xD-10sU8OPFm60w3JSAgDCaf9Ye7tm1GH892smujero2RXrznm7BpKuKojlIfSnyHSzo/s400/madurai+map+for+blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> For those of you who don't have a clue where Pondicherry is, I have posted a little map to help you out. As you can see it is in the very southern region of India. South India is very very different than Northern India, especially on the coasts(and the food). I have always loved living near the beach and I am very blessed to be doing it in India. Pondy is small in Indian terms. It has about a million people and has a beautiful downtown section that the locals call "white town". That is because alot of French (not only french, but the majority) people come here during the tourist season (around September through March) and stay between 3 to 6 months. Why French people? Wikipedia says, " Puducherry (formerly <a class="internal" title="Pondicherry.ogg" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ac/Pondicherry.ogg">Pondicherry</a> (<a title="Wikipedia:Media help" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Media_help">help</a>·<a title="Image:Pondicherry.ogg" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pondicherry.ogg">info</a>)) is a <a title="Union Territory" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Territory">Union Territory</a> of <a title="India" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India">India</a>. It is a former <a title="France" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France">French</a> colony, consisting of four non-contiguous <a title="Enclaves" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enclaves">enclaves</a>, or districts, and named for the largest, <a title="Pondicherry (city)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pondicherry_(city)">Pondicherry</a>. In September 2006, the territory changed its official name from Pondicherry to the vernacular original,<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pondicherry#_note-0">[1]</a><a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pondicherry#_note-1">[2]</a> Puducherry, which means "New village"<a title="Wikipedia:Citing sources" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources">[citation needed]</a> in the <a title="Tamil language" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language">Tamil language</a>. The territory is called புதுச்சேரி (Putuccēri) or பாண்டிச்சேரி (Pāṇṭiccēri) in Tamil,, or "Pondichéry" in French. It is also known as The French Riviera of the East (La Côte d'Azur de l'Est). <div><div></div><div>It is beautiful, cheap, and very, very social. The beach promenade is full of people walking along the shore, eating, chatting, and trying not to give all their money away to the homeless on the nearby streets. This is my first time living in a developing country or in Asia. I am from a very small town in South Georgia called Tifton (USA). I have never imagined such poverty and decadence living so closely to one another. After sometime, I began not carrying my camera around with me every minute so I could actually relax and enjoy myself.</div><br /><div>Before deciding to stay in Pondy, I lived in Auroville which is about 5 miles north. It is an interesting place, but I didn't really fit in with most of the "aging European expatriates in a perpetual summer camp" . Auroville is a place where you hide from the rest of the world, and I enjoyed that for a while. "The Mother and Sri Aurobindo" weren't really my thing either, although the Sri Aurobindo Ashram does alot of great things with the community in Pondicherry and has a nice guest house by the sea. Auroville has alot of cool architecture, experimental energies, permaculture, organic food and wonderful cashew farms! I took a class on rammed earth and unfired brick making. I enjoyed my time there.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Though most of my traveling in India is finished, I kinda prefer just to stay in Pondy.... it's still an adventure everyday.</div></div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-30131070568724638152007-06-20T01:54:00.000+05:302007-07-07T13:29:07.142+05:30<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sv4s3HwoiUNL37v2JECFOUJ3pSwUdjjFQE57huwDQbWa4FbaILV_md71mVaIdJkeW4oadFDS_MZI3mCRHS9pzrPER9rf8rQduuybKGhbfYNBbcB5JAQzyqGqu2nrMR5F1hC5Tbg3aBY/s1600-h/for+design+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077876323591781906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sv4s3HwoiUNL37v2JECFOUJ3pSwUdjjFQE57huwDQbWa4FbaILV_md71mVaIdJkeW4oadFDS_MZI3mCRHS9pzrPER9rf8rQduuybKGhbfYNBbcB5JAQzyqGqu2nrMR5F1hC5Tbg3aBY/s320/for+design+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23OmciBFuBB4xHPiZkL_S122_tp3kiaN9R-1i1bcj8XOuF0J4NmcjF7OJvDj_pKydu5MoPlgilyZdGsIL2nsnakaJ4mMMUiChvQ8owugqiALxQ5zeaMgLkpc9Q-KUkeHH43iIUq_gu18/s1600-h/design+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077876327886749218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23OmciBFuBB4xHPiZkL_S122_tp3kiaN9R-1i1bcj8XOuF0J4NmcjF7OJvDj_pKydu5MoPlgilyZdGsIL2nsnakaJ4mMMUiChvQ8owugqiALxQ5zeaMgLkpc9Q-KUkeHH43iIUq_gu18/s320/design+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div align="center">I am so excited because this is my first shipment of merchandise back home. Keep me in your prayers!</div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-81617450206311526722007-06-17T19:22:00.000+05:302007-07-07T13:25:14.968+05:30indian market<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQI76fa6wSl6IOEAfQ2iNMBIadPIwo8vzrWyVcLfcbVhXLwa2Hc-QhRbf0bwKsgDWiDaTFIdy5jFBDOv4kbo7LIKV-x0Rsp1kNzRHHZMr5zjBj1xr64Q0eFo5m-Ym4_qfhuG5U20f6sg/s1600-h/red_orange+hobo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077043065576619474" style="CURSOR: hand" height="274" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQI76fa6wSl6IOEAfQ2iNMBIadPIwo8vzrWyVcLfcbVhXLwa2Hc-QhRbf0bwKsgDWiDaTFIdy5jFBDOv4kbo7LIKV-x0Rsp1kNzRHHZMr5zjBj1xr64Q0eFo5m-Ym4_qfhuG5U20f6sg/s320/red_orange+hobo.jpg" width="165" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-UTz0ZSIlnpZo3vjo5-3Np-QgiPir6egFWnGKqu5kSshN6ZzifoPv__-yR4y5FTZzZoy07EjqIPbgEUlJiIci3lVNAJSkRy6pEQCkVUe5AWPkCU1MALQ7NBfvmEGzH3D4Qzn4uwtnlU/s1600-h/market+bag+grey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077040922387938738" style="WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" height="271" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-UTz0ZSIlnpZo3vjo5-3Np-QgiPir6egFWnGKqu5kSshN6ZzifoPv__-yR4y5FTZzZoy07EjqIPbgEUlJiIci3lVNAJSkRy6pEQCkVUe5AWPkCU1MALQ7NBfvmEGzH3D4Qzn4uwtnlU/s320/market+bag+grey.jpg" width="164" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWu67DYScfwqw5fuT_O9iGaUZ7tKQrTIm8lhZCh-pb66xroOx400pLxl-CE7ijyVJ1hZGvj-OIvi0DGRnoNLKA5412m3FnehONaOmZmaF11OU6r0f62M_7A8AfJyMAzW7xnB-RH_LrH4/s1600-h/IMGP0045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077040918092971410" style="WIDTH: 162px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px" height="282" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWu67DYScfwqw5fuT_O9iGaUZ7tKQrTIm8lhZCh-pb66xroOx400pLxl-CE7ijyVJ1hZGvj-OIvi0DGRnoNLKA5412m3FnehONaOmZmaF11OU6r0f62M_7A8AfJyMAzW7xnB-RH_LrH4/s320/IMGP0045.jpg" width="165" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP1NlMhYET1yU-oj_ZbWDfyIrGkZuGnEnhiWSy2LeVzwYLuEyUm1iG1eZrouBXc57Js_6mjWlJg6XOeFnDJHDzErUUNiiwIL9S0o3slPsHKGwBQHkm1qBTRBY2miZsuJYmm_7mb_DYEE/s1600-h/IMGP0101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077040918092971426" style="WIDTH: 183px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px" height="285" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP1NlMhYET1yU-oj_ZbWDfyIrGkZuGnEnhiWSy2LeVzwYLuEyUm1iG1eZrouBXc57Js_6mjWlJg6XOeFnDJHDzErUUNiiwIL9S0o3slPsHKGwBQHkm1qBTRBY2miZsuJYmm_7mb_DYEE/s320/IMGP0101.jpg" width="196" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><strong>(top left image)</strong> My little bag</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>(top right image)</strong> I love this HUGE market bag; no need to use plastic or paper any more! I think this would be great for the grocery store, farmers market, etc. It could also be used at the beach, as well as a yoga bag, gym bag, or carry-all. I use mine all the time when I am riding on my scooter so i can go in to town and get everthing I need. I don't have a car in India like alot of people I know here, and who needs a trunk when you have this thing! side note: no matter how heavy it is, the oversized strap makes it extremely comfortable, I am going to start having these made in organic cotton.</div><div><strong>(bottom left image)</strong> This is a great simple design. I have this bag in black silk and it is beautiful. The tie is simple and shows the interior color of the bag.</div><div><strong>(bottom right image)</strong> This bag is typical indian colors, the brighter the better! I love these colors, but the fabric is a poly/ silk blend. I am not a big fan of polyester ( even though I used to get a kick out of my grandmother's double knit polyester suits... they were so awesome on her) I love the shiny!<br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div><div></div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-67787208468805740852007-06-17T17:07:00.000+05:302007-08-30T23:55:43.290+05:30possible ideas<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83GTaBEYnAr5rI1iApxG9UPCFY2C_6v3J0icQg3UCHOVqAsDl2CcJa5CRsq3XpJqcbVvitmkGYsJh6S-WrcOzbYwj0D3WV9vVJXtmu4Qq0Xb0UT6pHH1PNJwLLKREF1rV5HOydl6cEFI/s1600-h/double+wrap+pant+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077003723676187938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83GTaBEYnAr5rI1iApxG9UPCFY2C_6v3J0icQg3UCHOVqAsDl2CcJa5CRsq3XpJqcbVvitmkGYsJh6S-WrcOzbYwj0D3WV9vVJXtmu4Qq0Xb0UT6pHH1PNJwLLKREF1rV5HOydl6cEFI/s320/double+wrap+pant+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These are a design called Thai wrap pant. The crotch needs to be taken up some, for the Western market.The border is made from edging that is used on the "sarees" which is the traditional wrap dress worn by most indian women.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UA3otDpCNqPehyMByI4s6vmusFzhNAaaYKUzSi3C_5C1RbMmHmQJlrFKA5T_mGlZQzpMesaRZkiNopu826pdAVyN28plT6IKrJidWvy5YwmeHOXqTNcRHA__Y4fn7Hpim9ho1VJ7dRg/s1600-h/brown_silver+hobo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077000493860781298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UA3otDpCNqPehyMByI4s6vmusFzhNAaaYKUzSi3C_5C1RbMmHmQJlrFKA5T_mGlZQzpMesaRZkiNopu826pdAVyN28plT6IKrJidWvy5YwmeHOXqTNcRHA__Y4fn7Hpim9ho1VJ7dRg/s320/brown_silver+hobo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center">This bag is made from the cotton/silk blend and also has the saree border sewn on it. I love this fabric because it has a nice sheen. The strap is oversized so you can fold it, twist it to see the interior color. The button is made from "coir" which is coconut shell. These are pics I took of possible designs and fabrics. I would like to use silk/cotton blends for spring/summer and 1oo% silk for fall/winter.</div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3718668433631325715.post-29509154729690966132007-06-16T21:53:00.001+05:302007-07-07T13:27:10.076+05:30<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlO_Ssppnx1cTe2XWROAdk_M1Hc7JBmZAena82jBrJ5tFb25jnbaq7Pgj43LomtXnBslnirhRcCGRHQBgqqOS9bm8tx0AfdqGVNqFgVhwn8osIBFc6yzrFXcP3m6WnO3sbQ0a_ggyPpU/s1600-h/green+skirt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076705661535780034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlO_Ssppnx1cTe2XWROAdk_M1Hc7JBmZAena82jBrJ5tFb25jnbaq7Pgj43LomtXnBslnirhRcCGRHQBgqqOS9bm8tx0AfdqGVNqFgVhwn8osIBFc6yzrFXcP3m6WnO3sbQ0a_ggyPpU/s320/green+skirt.jpg" border="0" /></a> i love this skirt.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">Sooo.... this is my first real blog. I have never really been a "writer", i am a photographer, but now I feel it is time for me to put some ideas, thoughts, inspirations together so that I can see them all cohesively in one place. Also, I really appreciate critiques (constructive) and opinions from the people I love and admire so this is a way for me to communicate my ideas in a sort of stream of consciousness format quickly and get some feedback.<br /><br />UUGGHHH!!! this computer just decided to turn itself off and I lost my train of thought...so India.<br /><br />I have been in India for eight months and have been completely inspired in a way that hasn't happened in a long time for me. I am originally from Tifton, Georgia USA. I decided to come here because I turned 30, and I decided to stay a while because I got a year visa. I love sustainable design and development; more specifically in architecture and construction. I also like accessories; more specifically, bags.... and I love to eat. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The colors, smells, architecture, people in South India have really done a job on me. Another really amazing realization is how different business transaction, money handling, and networking is done. I try to think how I would put that down in writing and make sense of it, but as of yet, I have failed. Even on paper..... but what keeps coming to the forefront of my mind is "organized chaos, organized chaos...".<br /><br />There are some things here I would like to do. I want to put up some photos of bags and clothes I have found recently at the "Goubert Market" in Pondicherry (Puducherry) Tamil Nadu, India where I now reside and love. This market was a little difficult to find at first, as it is inside one city block. There are entrances to the outside between the buildings facing out to the street. After a while, I found that most of the entrances have yellow painted arches that say "Goubert Market" leading you in. How could I have missed the yellow? I don't know, I think I was looking too hard, like when I'm stalking mosquitos in my room to kill before I go to bed at night. To my defense, the signs are dirty and stained with everything imaginable.<br /><br />The merchandise is mainly cotton, silk/cotton mix, and silk. The designs are clean and modern; simple but great fabrics, colors, and shapes.</div></div>Vallihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03380202574088039832noreply@blogger.com1